His ideal was fulfilled now. Otto lay dead, his face full of peace and joy, for the weary quest of his crazy brain was over, and the Harmony Chime had called him to his eternal rest.
And, past that change of life that men call Death, we may well believe that he heard in the ascension to the celestial atmosphere the ringing of welcoming bells more beautiful than the Harmony Chime.
“I will relate another story,” said Mr. Beal. “It is like the Harmony Chime, but has a sadder ending.”
THE BELL-FOUNDER OF BRESLAU.
There once lived in Breslau a famous bell-founder, the fame of whose skill caused his bells to be placed in many German towers. According to the ballad of Wilhelm Müller,—
“And all his bells they sounded
So full and clear and pure:
He poured his faith and love in,
Of that all men were sure.
But of all bells that ever
He cast, was one the crown,
That was the bell for sinners
At Breslau in the town.”
He had an ambition to cast one bell that would surpass all others in purity of tone, and that should render his own name immortal.
He was required to cast a bell for the Magdalen Church tower of that city of noble churches,—Breslau. He felt that this was opportunity for his masterpiece. All of his thoughts centred on the Magdalen bell.
After a long period of preparation, his metals were arranged for use. The form was walled up and made steady; the melting of the metals in the great bell-kettle had begun.